Hernial forceps.



No. 724,ss9.- PATENTED APR. 7, 190.3

J. H. KOGHENDEBFER.

HBRNIAL PORGEPS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 22, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

ficzamer' e),

lvihwmen I y k a W 2% $4M Q UNITED ST TE s- Y P TENT- OFFICE.

JOHN H. KOCHENDERFER, OF GALION, OHIO.

HERNIAVL FORCEPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 724,889, dated April7, 1903.

3 Application filed September 22, 1902. Serial No. 124,443. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I,JHN I-LKOCHENDERFER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Galion, in the county of Crawford and State of Ohio, haveinvented new and useful Improvement-s in Hernial Forceps, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to forceps for treating hernia, and the object ofthe same is to construct an instrument of this character by means ofwhich the fallen parts may be returned to their normal positions and therupture irritated to start healing.

The simple and novel construction employed by me in carrying out myinvention is fully described in this specification and claimed, andillustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof, inwhich- Figure 1 is a side elevation of my forceps. Fig. 2 is a detail ofthe cross-bar. Fig. 3 isa detail section of the cross-pin and stem orplunger. Fig. 4 is a section on the line, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a detailsection on the line 5 5, Fig. 1.

Like numerals of reference designate like parts in the different viewsof the drawings.

The numeral 1 designates a member comprising a curved handle 2 and astraight rounded jaw 3. Apertured ears 4 are formed on the member 1 andare pivoted on a crosspin 5 to a member 6, which comprises a handle 7,similar to the handle 2, and a jaw 8, like the jaw 3, and arranged tocooperate therewith.

Slidingly mounted in a transverse aperture 9 in the cross-pin 5 is astem or plunger 10, having a body comprising a round uniform portion 11and a larger slab-sided threaded portion 12. A ball or knob 13 is formedon the end of the plunger to adapt it for use against thin membraneswithout injuring or lacerating them. A cross-bar 14, having arectangular body 15, bearing a slab-sided threaded shank 16, is mountedbetween the two handles 2 and 7, with the threaded shank 16 engaging anaperture 2 in the handle 2 and with the other end thereof pivoted to thehandle 7 on a cross-pin 17.

The body of the bar let is apertured at 15 to accommodate the threadedportion 12 of the plunger 10 and is also slotted at 15 to accommodate aknurled thumb-nut 18, which is fitted on the threaded portion 12 of theplunger 10. A detachable button 18 is attached to the threaded end ofthe plunger 10 to serve asa stop to limit the movement thereof. -Athumb-nut 19 is mounted in a slot .2 in the handle 2 and engages thethreaded shank 16 to serve to regulate the spread of the jaws 2 and 7.Springs 21 are secured to the handles and arranged to hold the jaws 3and 8 normally closed. The jaws 3 and 8 are hollowed out at 22 androunded out at 23 to form hollow hemispheres to accommodate the rod 11and ball 13 of the plunger 10. The tips 3 and 8 are rounded off to adaptthem for use without danger of injuring the patient.

In operating my forceps to cure hernia the jaws 3 and 8 are first closedby using the thumb-nut 19 to separate the handles 2 and 7,, after whichthe plunger 10 is drawn down until the ball 13 is within or near therounded tips of the jaws. The ball 13 is then placed against the scrotumand-the plunger 10 propelled by means of the thumb-nut 18 to push up thescrotum above the hernial ring, thereby forming a fold in the scrotum.The instrument is then held with the plunger in contact with the scrotumand the nut 18 operated in a reverse direction to bring the tips of thejaws up to the ball 13, after which the thumb-nut 19 is turned to openthe jaws to stretch the hernial ring and the muscular and other tissuescomprising the membrane in which the hernial ring exists. The stretchingof the membrane will cause irritation and a consequent contraction ofthe parts surrounding the opening, besides exudation and inflammation,thereby inducing healing and the closing of the hernial. ring andconsequent retaining and holding of the intestines in their properplace. The fold produced by the instrument prevents tearing or abradingthe scrotal walls. A cure is thus effected without operating byincision.

I do not wish to be limited as to details of construction, as these maybe modified in many particulars without departing from the spirit of myinvention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

1. In an instrument for the treatment of hernia, the combination ofapair of members pivoted together, each of said members comprising a jawand a handle for operating said jaw, a plunger slidingly mountedintermediate said jaws, said plunger being rounded 06 on its outer endto adapt it to be placed against the skin without lacerating it, andmeans for movingsaid plunger longitudinally, substantially as described.

2. In an instrument for the treatment of hernia, the combination of apair of pivoted jaws, a plunger mounted intermediate said jaws andconstrained to move longitudinally, the outer end of said plunger beingrounded oif to adapt it to be pressed against the skin withoutlacerating it, and means whereby said plunger is actuated, substantiallyas described.

3. In an instrument for the treatment of hernia, the combination of apair of pivoted jaws, handles for operating said jaws, a plunger mountedintermediate said jaws, the end of said plunger being rounded off toadapt it to be pressed against the skin without breaking it, means formovingsaid plunger longitudinally, and means for operating said handlesand holding them against accidental displacement, substantially asdescribed.

4:. In an instrument of the class described, the combination, of a pairof pivoted jaws, handles constructed to operate said jaws to close themwhen said handles are separated, a cross-bar connected to one of saidhandles and passing through an aperture in the other, said cross-barhaving threads thereon, a nut engaging the said threads, a threadedplunger mounted intermediate of said jaws and passing through anaperture in said cross-bar, a nut located in a slot in said cross-barandengaging the threads on said plunger, substantially as described.

5. In an instrument for the treatment of hernia, the combination of apair of pivoted jaws, the ends of which are rounded Off to adapt them toengage the skin without cutting it, handles for operating said jaws, and

a plunger adjustably mounted intermediate said jaws and having its upperend rounded off to adapt it to engage the skin without cutting it, andmeans for operating said plunger relative to the jaws, substantially asdescribed.

6. In an instrument for the treatment of hernia, the combination of apair of jaws, handles for operating said jaws, a plunger mountedintermediate said jaws, the outer end otsaid plunger being rounded offto adapt it to be pressed against the skin without injuring it, andmeans for operating said plunger longitudinally and transversely, substantially as described.

7. In an instrument for the treatment of hernia, the combination of apair of pivoted jaws, concave on their opposed faces and a plungerfitting said faces, substantially as described.

8. In an instrument for the treatment of hernia, the combination of apair of pivoted jaws having hollow hemispherical points and a plungermounted intermediate said jaws and having a ball on the end, said ballbeing constructed to fit within said hemispheres, substantially asdescribed. I

9. In an instrument for the treatment of hernia, the combination of apair of jaws wherebyahernia-ring is engaged, a slidinglymounted plungerhaving a rounded end whereby the scrotum is engaged, raised and heldabove said hernia-ring, and means for operating said jaws, substantiallyas described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

JOHN H. KOCHENDERFER.

Witnesses:

O. R. MILLER, E. KOCHENDERFER.

